Of Mice and Men Essay
The classic text “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck explores the nature of humanity as it existed in 1930’s America. Through the themes of the impossibility of the American Dream, gender and sexism as well as isolation and loneliness, John steinbeck is not only able to explore the issues of marginalisation, social hierarchy and personal hardship of the time, but he is also able to explore the human aspects of aspiration, human dignity and belonging in the process. Therefore conveying to the reader that every person deserves human dignity, but not everyone is able to get it and reveals the harsh reality of 1930’s America.
Humans are inherently curious creatures, who are constantly trying to better themselves, in order to achieve their aspiration which gives them gives them a feeling of self worth and purpose. The thematic concern of the Impossibility of the American Dream is explored by Steinbeck through his main characters, George and Lennie, who both struggle to achieve their dream of owning their own farm. This theme reflects the personal hardship and economic inequality in 1930’s America. Cyclical structure foreshadowing is explored through the quote, "Lennie—if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush… Hide in the brush till I come for you." Reveals how Steinbeck uses ‘brush’ at the beginning and end of the novel. This place reveals that when they are talking about the women in Weed, and it is set up as a negative place. George tells Lennie to come to ‘the brush’ if anything bad happens, which foreshadows the event of Lennie’s death and the impossibility of reaching their American dream because something bad will happen. The impossibility of the American Dream of both Lennie and George reflects the personal hardship and economic inequality of men and women, moreso men, in 1930’s America. Steinbeck explores this theme to show the harsh reality and impossibility of achieving the American Dream during the 1930’s.
Human Dignity refers to the fact that humans beings require self respect and self empowerment in order to feel accepted by their society. The motif of gender and sexism is explored by John Steinbeck through his only female character, Curley’s wife in the classic novel “Of Mice and Men”. This theme is a reflection of the marginalisation women experienced in the 1930’s America. This theme reveals the marginalisation of women in 1930’s America. Characterisation symbolism is explored in the text through the quote, “I get lonely,” she said. “You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets...
